Machine for operating upon pithy stalks.



No. 675,758. Patented .Iuiio 4, l90l.

G; B. SHERWOOD. MACHINE FOB OPERATING UPDN PITHY STA-LKS.

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No. 675,758. Patented June 4, l90l. G. R. SHERWOOD.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON PITHY STALKS.

(Application flledJ'une 11, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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WITNESSES 4 5 A TTOHNEYS 'No. 675,758. Patented lune 4, I90l.

G. R. SHERWOOD.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON PITH Y STALKS.

(Application filed tune 11, 1900.

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No. 675,758. Patented June 4, I901.

G. R'. SHERWOOD.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON PITHY STALKS.

- (Application; filed June 11, 1900.) (No Nodal.) 5 Sheets-Shoat 5.

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UNITED STATES"- PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE R. SllERl/VOOD, OF KEARNEY, NEBRASKA.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON PITHY STALKS.

sincrsrcsnzon forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,758, dated June 4,1901.

Application filed June 11, 1900.

TactZZ w/tmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. SHERWOOD, residing at Kearney, in thecounty of Buffalo and State of Nebraska, have made certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Operating upon Pithy Stalks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in machines for operating upon pithystalks, and especially in that class of such machines represented by myformer patent, No. 627,882, dated June 27, 1899; and the presentinvention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations ofparts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of the opposite sides ofthe machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine.Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view, partly in section and partly brokenaway, of the front cutter-blade, its carrier, and ad justing andoperating means. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of said cutter-blade and itsadjusting means. Fig. 6 is a detail cross-sectional view on about line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the eccentric foroperating the cutter-blade. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of aportion of the cutter-blade and its eccentric yoke and the wear-platestherefor detached. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view, partly brokenaway, of the carrier for the front cutter. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectionalview on about line 9 9 of Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view,partly broken away, of the carrier for the rear cutter. Fig. 10 is across-sectional view on about line 10 10 of Fig. 10. Fig. 11 is a detailperspective view of one of the adjusting-blocksfor the frontcutter-blade, and Fig. 12 is a similar view of the adj usting-block forthe rear cutfer-blade. Fig. 13 is a detail cross-section on about line13 13 of Fig. 11, and Fig. 14 is a detail view of a portion of theclearing-roller and the guide-board and bed-cutter carrying the same.

In carrying out my invention I employ the opposite side plates A and A,which are suitably constructed to receive the several parts presentlydescribed and are properly braced apart in the desired position. In thepresent invention I employ at the front of the machine upper and lowerfeed-rollers B and B, which Serial No. 19,897. (No model.)

feed the stalks to the front cutter-blade O.

This cutter-blade O, as in my former patent before referred to, isdesigned to cut the shell from the lower side of the stalk, the shellfrom the upper side of the stalk being cut by the succeeding or rearcutter-blade D. In my former patent the feed-rolls at the front of themachine were both yieldingly supported; but in my present invention,while the upper roll B is yieldingly supported by means of the spring I)and may be adjusted by the screw 1), the lower roll B is unyielding inoperation, but may be adjusted to any desired position by the screw b asshown in Fig. 2. The boxesE and E for the rollers B and B move insuitable guides, and the movement of the upper box E may be regulated bythe screw E which is threaded at its lower end in the lower box E and isarranged at its upper end for abutment by the upper box IE. By adjustingthis screw in the box E the extent of the downward movement of the box Emay be limited, as will be readily understood from Fig. 2 of thedrawings. By making the lower roller B rigid in operation and supportingthe same so it can be adj usted the roller can be accurately set withrespect to the cutter C to correspond to the size of stalks to beoperated upon, so that the shell will be properly cut from the lowerside of each stalk and the lower roller, which guides the stalks to theblade, will remain permanently in such position during the operation. Atthe same time the upper roller being yieldingly supported will permitthe passage of any unusually large stalk or foreign substance that maybe fed with the stalks.

The cutter (J removes the shell from the lower side of the stalk, andsuch shell is directed to the shell-cutter F, which has a revolvingcutter F and a bed-cutter F and cuts the shell up and delivers it to acarrier G, by which it may be delivered at any desired point.

From the feed-rollers B and B the stalk passes to the cutter C, whichcutter may be adjusted forward and back to take up Wear and to properlyset it to cut the stalks, and this blade may also be set up or down atits cutting edge. These operations are present in the machine covered bymy former patent, before referred to; but in the present instanceinstead of moving the carrier for the blade 0 forward and back andinstead of rocking the said carrier to adjust the blade up or down I inthe present instance adjust the cutter forward and back in the carrierand provide means which operate upon the cutter-blade whereby to rockthe carrier. By these means I set the cutter-blade itself directlyforward or back and up or down instead of effecting such movementsindirectly through the carrier.

In the construction as shown the carrier II is provided in its frontedge with a way II for the blade 0 and parallel with said way with anoil-duct H which has ports H leading to the way II to lubricate theknife operating in the said way. The carrier II also has a longitudinalopeningII for the shaft I, upon which the carrier II may rock. Thisshaft I extends at its ends I, and such extended ends are clamped to theadjustingblocks, presently described.

The cutter C has at its ends the tangs or shanks 0, one of which isconnected with the yoke C in which operates the eccentric G forreciprocating the knife. The eccentric C is suitably rotated and theyoke O has bearing-plates (J and C the former being fixed in place andthe latter being adjustable by means of screws C, so it can be set totake up the wear.

The adjusting-blocks J are formed in rights and lefts and are fittedagainst the outer sides of the framing and are constructed as shown inFig. 11. As shown, the adjusting-blocks J are provided in their upperedges with notches J, forming seats for the cutter-blade, the lower wallof said notch being reinforced by a wear-pin J which receives the wearresulting from the reciprocation of the cutter. The front and rear wallsof the notch J operate by engaging the edges of the cutter to adjust thesame forward and back as the adjusting-blockiscorrespondinglymoved. Theedges of the notch J are rabbeted at J to re ceive the flanges J of thecap-plate J which fits in the notch J, maintains the cutter-blade insaid notch, and may be forced downward by tightening its securing-screwsto take up the wear.

In one edge of the block J, preferably at the rear end thereof, asshown, I provide a slot J, which receives the extended end I of theshaft I, which shaft forms a pivot on which the adjusting-block may betilted when the clamp I is loose. This clamp I has a disk I whichoverlaps the edges of the slot J and binds against the outer face of theadjustingblock J when the clamp I is tightened by screwing its threadedportion I in a corresponding socket in the end of the shaft I. By thismeans the shaft I and its clamp may be utilized to lock theadjusting-block in any desired adjustment.

For adjusting the block J back and forth I provide at its front end arecess J crossed by a bar J and entered by a screw J, which is threadedat J in a lug projecting from the framing and is provided with shouldersJ, fitting on opposi to sides of the cross-bar J so the screw J mayoperate to force the adjusting-block either forward or back, as may bedesired. By this means the movements of the blade back and forth may bereadily accomplished.

For varying the angle of the blade I provide means for tilting the adjusting-block on the shaft I as a pivot. To this end I provide screws and7c, threaded in suitable bearings on the framing above and below theadjusting-block,in position to engage therewith, so they can be set tomove the front end of the block J up or down, as desired. In order thatthese screws K and K may also operate to press the adjusting-blocktightly against the outer face of the framing, I preferably taper theupper and lower edges of the block J, as best shown in Fig. 6, so thescrews will operate with a wedging action to press the block against theframing.

'The rear cutter D has its carrier-block L constructed in generalrespects like the block II for the preceding cutter, and this cutter Dis operated and adjusted like the cutter O, as before described; but asit is inconvenient to arrange the screw for adjusting theadjusting-blocks M for the rear cutter back and forth at the front endof the said blocks I provide for adjusting the said blocks M back andforth by means engaged therewith near their rear ends and consisting,preferably, of screws N, operating in threaded bearings on the framingand having a ring or flange N entering a notch M in the block M, so themovements of the screw N back and forth will correspondingly adjust theblock M with which it is engaged.

As best shown in Fig. 3, an inclined guide is provided at 0, leadingupwardly from the front cutter toward the succeeding cutter D, and Ifind it desirable to arrange said cutter D to meet the stalk squarely inorder to secure a perfect cleavage. To this end said cutter D isinclined to correspond with the direction of the guide 0, and thefeed-rollers P and P for directing the stalks to the cutter D arearranged with their axes in a plane inclined to the vertical and atright angles to the direction of the inclined guide, as shown in Fig. 3.In securing this result the guideways a in the framing for the boxes ofthe rollers P and P are inclined as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The rear cutter D is designed to cut the shell from the upper side ofthe stalks, being to this end arranged above the center of the spacebetween the rollers P and P, and by preference the roller P ispractically unyielding during operation; but I find it desirable tosupport this roller P so it can yield slightly, as the stalk, or so muchof it as reaches the rollers P and P, has been firmly compressed by thepreceding rollers B and B.

From the cutter D the shell passes to the IIO cutter-Q, being fedthereto by the brush-roll Q, while the pith is fed by the roller P tothe cutter R, passing during such operation over the yieldingguide-board S,which is fixed at one end to the bed-cutter B, so it canbe adjusted up or down, as will be understood from dotted lines in Fig.3. At the under side of the free edge of the board S, which ispreferably of resilient material, I provide the clearing-roll T, (shownin Fig. 3,) resting normally clear of the roller P, but suflicientlyclose thereto to be operated when a leaf or other particle gets betweenthe rollers P and T, as will be understood from Fig. 3. Thus if inoperation one end of a leaf or other fiber passes above the guide-boardS and the rear end of said part passes down between the rollers T and Pthe roller T will be operated by the roller P and the said leaf or otherpart will be drawn down between the rollers P and T and will bedischarged, whereas except for this roller T such leaves and otherstringy parts would have a tendency to accumulate on the board S andbetween the same and the roller P and clog the feed of the machine.

It should be noticed that I provide independent cutters F and Q for theshell-sections delivered from the front and succeeding cutters O and Dand that both of these cutters F and Q discharge onto a carrier G, whichmay be arranged or extended or coupled to other carriers to deliver theshell at any desired point. The pith cut by the cutter R is dischargedto a screw conveyor R by which it maybe delivered at one side of themachine.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the cutters Oand D may be adjusted back and forth in their respective carriers andthat by tilting said cutters the carriers may be rocked to correspondwith the direction of their cutters.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for operating upon pithy stalks, the combination of theframing, a cutter for cutting the shell from one side of the stalk meansfor reciprocating such cutter longitudinally and feed-rollers forfeeding the stalk to such cutter the latter extending approximatelyparallel with the rollers, the roller on the side from which the shellis cut being practically unyielding during operation and under thecontrol of adjusting devices, and the other roller being yieldin glysupported substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for operating upon pithy stalks, the combination of acutter-blade for splitting the stalk, a carrier having a way in whichsaid cutter may be reciprocated, means for reciprocating the cut-ter insaid way, and devices whereby the cutter may be adjusted back and forthin the way of its carrier, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine substantially as described,

the combination of a blade for splitting the stalks, a carrier rockablysupported and provided with a way for the cutter-blade and meansoperating upon the cutter-blade whereby to rock its carrier,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a machine substantially as described of acutter-blade for splitting the stalks, a rockable carrier having a wayin which said cutter blade operates, means whereby the cutter-blade maybe adjusted forward and back in said way, and means operating upon thecutter-blade whereby to rock its carrier, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of the bladefor splitting the stalks, the rockable carrier having a way for saidblade, and the adjusting-blocks having bearings for said blade and meansfor setting such blocks to adjust the blade, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the cutter and its carrier of the adjusting-blocks having bearings for the cutter and means for adjustingsaid blocks back and forth, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of thecarrier having a way for the cutter-blade, a shaft on which said carriermay rock, the adj listing-blocks having bearings for the cutter-blade,means by which the adjusting-blocks may be clamped to the shaft for thecarrier, and means for adjusting said blocks, substantially as setforth.

8. The combination with the cutter-blade and its carrier, of theadjusting-blocks having tapered edges, the screws for rocking saidblocks arranged to engage said tapered edges bearings for the blocks andmeans for adj usting the blocks longitudinally, substantially as setforth.

9. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of thecutter-blade, the carrier therefor having a way in which saidoutter-blade operates, and provided with an oilduct extendingapproximately parallel with said way and having ports communicatingtherewith ,and means for operating said blade, substantially as setforth.

10. The combination in a machine substantially as described, of thecutter-blade, the carrier having a way for said blade, the shaft ofsaidcarrier having its ends extended, the adjusting-blocks havingbearings for the cutter-blade and openings for the extended ends of theshaft, means for clamping said ends of the shaft to the adjlisting-blocks, and means for adjusting said blocks, substantially asset forth.

11. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of thefront cutter for removing the shell from one side of the stalk, aninclined guideway leading rearwardly from said cutter, a succeedingcutter in line with said inclined guideway, feed-rollers for feeding thestalks to said succeeding cutter, and

the framing having inclined guideways for the boxes of saidfeed-rollers, whereby the rollers may be arranged with their axes in aline at right angles to the direction of the inclined guideway,substantially as set forth.

12. Inamachinesubstantiallyasdescribed, the combination with a pair offeed-rollers and a cutter in rear thereof, of a clearingroller locatedbelow the cutter and in close proximity to the lower feed-roller,substantially as shown and described.

13. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of a frontand a succeeding cutter by which to cut the shell successively from theopposite sides of the stalk, feed-rollers in advance of said cutters,the latter being arranged to one side of the center of the space betweentheir respective rollers, the roller of each pair nearest theirrespective cutters being practically unyielding in operation andset-screws for controlling said unyielding rollers, substantially as setforth.

14. In a machine substantially as described the combination of a pair offeed-rollers, a cutter in rear thereof, a spring guide-board below thecutter and a clearing-roller supported by the guide-board in closeproximity to the lower feed-roller, substantially as set forth.

GEORGE R. SHERWOOD.

\Vitnesses:

SoLoN O. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN.

